As the Paris Climate Conference hosts its Farmers’ Day, a new survey from the NFU has highlighted the damage severe weather has inflicted upon agriculture over the past decade.

The research, which involved interviews with 527 NFU members, has revealed that two thirds of farmers have noticed an increase in extreme weather, consistent with the climate change impacts predicted by scientists.

The majority of those surveyed said they had seen changes in rainfall patterns as well as more flooding, with 25% also observing an increase in storms, gales or high winds. However, some farmers actually reported less severe weather, with 10% saying that winters had generally become milder.

NFU vice president Guy Smith said: “It is very worrying that nearly 60% of farm businesses have actually been affected by severe weather events in the last 10 years. This news comes as a stark reminder that agriculture is on the front line of climate change impacts.

“These statistics show the financial and emotional cost that changing weather patterns are having on our members and it reinforces the need for some of our key 2015 election manifesto asks to be met.”

During the latest general election, the NFU set the government several challenges, asking it, among other things, to increase investment in UK-relevant agri-science, supporting the development and approval of biotechnology through to commercialisation.

It also called for fiscal incentives that enable farm businesses to manage volatility and promote capital investment.

Earlier this year, the NFU successfully argued that farmers’ taxable profit averaging should be extended from two to five years to help members manage the impact of volatility.

However, the organisation says more needs to be done.

Mr Smith said: “From time immemorial, farmers have always battled with the weather when it comes to producing food, but if climate change projections are correct then this battle is going to get more challenging.

“Investment in better buildings, better land drainage and better irrigation can make farms more resilient in the face of tempest, flood and drought.

“But the food chain must support profitable farming in order to enable such agricultural adaptation, backed by Government setting the right regulatory regime – such as allowing farmers access to water so they are prepared for times of drought.”

He added that the survey illustrated how members were altering their approach to farm in response to the changes in the weather and longer-term climate they were experiencing.

“However we’re moving into uncharted climatic territory,” he said.

“This is why we want Government to work with British farmers to develop an ambitious food and farming strategy, rewarding investment in climate resilience so that we can fulfil our substantial production potential for an increasingly uncertain future.”